A United Nations rapporteur has raised concerns about the extremely high rate of executions, especially for juvenile offenders, in Iran.

Ahmed Shaheed, who presented his report to the UN Human Rights Council on March 14, said that "with at least 16 juvenile offenders reportedly hanged in 2014-15, Iran remains one of a few countries still resorting to this practice despite a strict prohibition against it under international law."

Shaheed also noted reports that individuals accused of national security and drug-related crimes in Iran are often deprived of the most basic due-process and fair-trial rights.

Shaheed acknowledged Iran's efforts to engage with his mandate and cooperate with UN human rights bodies, and called on the international community to continue supporting Tehran in realizing its human rights obligations.

Shaheed has not been allowed to visit Iran as part of his mandate, now in its fifth year.